EthosThe Newsletter for San José State Univers ity’s Department of The Newsletter for San José State Univers ity’s Department of

Communication Studies Graduate ProgramCommunication Studies Graduate Program Vol.1No.1 May2012

Vol.01No.1MAY2012

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Ethos! When prospective applicants contact me about our master's program in communication studies, they often ask, what can you do with a M.A. in Communication? After an especially inspiring series of conversations with our current graduate students, it occurred to me that documenting our students’ diverse accomplishments would be the best way of answering that question

In this first issue, we turn the spotlight on three students, one in her first year, one in her second year, and one graduating this May, who collectively represent a range of research interests and pursuits. Their work showcases the varied texture of communicative action and lends substance to the theoretical idea that communication is world-making.

In addition to these spotlights, we bring updates from students and alumni in order to provide a snapshot of the current ethos of our graduate program. We hope to provide many future snapshots.

- Kathleen McConnell, Graduate Studies Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Communication Studies

NewsandUpdates

JessicaLegluisgraduatingthisMay.Jessica'sresearchfocusesoninterpersonalcommunication,nonverbalcommunication,anddeceptionstudies.Afterherexperienceasafacilitatorforthe"DifficultDialogues"eventsatSJSUshehasbecomeinterestedinpublicdialogandhopestocontinuepracticingdialoguetechniquesinherprofessionalcareerasanemployeerelationsspecialistandmarriage/familycounselor.

MedhaRoyisgraduatinginMay.MedhafocusedherstudiesoninterculturalcommunicationandcompletedaqualitativestudyontheacculturationofAsianIndianemployeesintheU.S.Herprojectistitled"TheeffectoftheInternetontheacculturationofAsianIndianemployeesintheUnitedStates."

Whatfirst‐timeITmanagersreallyneedtoknow.

Weasked5accomplishedmanagersthethingstheywould’vedonedifferentlyattheonsetoftheircareers

Staci Gunner

InspiringtheNextGenerationofFeminists

On March 17, 2012, Staci Gunner, a second year graduate student and Director of SJSU’s Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development, realized a dream she has had for five years. With the help of the Women’s Resource Center, Staci organized the first South Bay Womyn’s Conference with workshops on education, abuse, body image, and revolution. The conference attracted over a hundred attendees. "The workshops were by far the highlight," Staci told us. The workshops, all organized around the theme of unity, allowed women and men to share their stories and perspectives. One workshop, “Redefining Masculinity,” addressed how to break down gender stereotypes and unite in creating an equal society. Staci’s inspiration for the event was the SJSU community. “We felt the unity we wanted to

gain," Staci reflected. "People felt moved from their soul. They felt humbled. They felt that they held a space on this campus for a moment of time that was simply theirs and that was powerful to their being, their identity, and their experience here.” Staci, who will be joining the Graduate Teaching Associate program in the fall, says she is definitely doing this event in the future. Her main goal is to provide students a place where they feel connected and to sustain those programs that allow her to give back. This year, her only expectation was that the conference happen at all. Its actuality far exceeded that expectation.

Stacy Ernst

CapturingtheContentofSanJosé

First year graduate student

Ethos

Stacy Ernst is engaged in a very hands-on study of independent print media. She is the Content Strategist for Content, a new magazine about San José.

Founder and artistic director, Daniel Garcia had a vision for the magazine years ago. With a deep love and passion for the people and the city of San José, Daniel created a beautiful way to discover and display the creative and innovative individuals who are making an impact on the city’s culture. There are many publications in the area, but nothing quite like Content. Stacy explains, "We love San José, we know how great it is, and how much it has to offer, and we want to share that with others." Running the magazine has been a learning experience for Stacy and her staff. They have been able to draw upon their personal and professional networks for questions or ideas, but for the most part, they have been figuring it out along the way. SJSU's Communication Studies department has drawn Stacy for the same reason as does Content magazine: her love of people. She loves talking to people, learning their stories,

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and finding out what makes them tick. Her background in communication studies (she is an SJSU alum and communication major) has given her confidence in her interactions with the people she interviews and researches. "I've had practice in interviewing techniques as well as practice in turning my interview notes into a clear and concise article." If you would like to get involved, email the magazine at: http://content-magazine.com/welcome/contribute/ and be ready to commit. Content is a labor of love. The staff's love for San José, its people, and its culture is a driving force behind the late nights and tight deadlines. If you are interested in subscribing to Content, you can do so online at: http://content-magazine.com/welcome/get/subscribe/.

Robert Gutierrez

DenverBound

Rob Gutierrez is graduating this May and will be attending the University of Denver to pursue a Ph.D. in communication with an emphasis on communication and culture. “I’m trying to look at culture from a performance and rhetoric point of view, and it is rare to find programs that will let you do that.” Rob's long-term goal is to secure a tenure track professorship at a four-year university.

The process of applying for doctoral programs required Rob to mentally prepare himself by memorizing his readings and utilizing them when needed. “When [I] approach my readings I tell myself, how do I know this stuff forever? I would use my readings in the classroom, in my own writings, and know that even years from now I will still be referring back to them.” Also important, Rob said, is maintaining an academic résumé, or curriculum vitae, and presenting yourself as someone you would want to invite to your

university. “I had done lots of performances on campus, kept an agenda in the classroom that set me apart..., and stayed connected with my professors via face time and email.”

In the future, Rob hopes to reach out to his community and to make adifference in people’s everyday lives. He also has a passion for writing and wants to be well published in academic circles and to author children’s books.

NewsandUpdates

LaurinaLanhamisgraduatinginMayaftercompletingathesisthatexploresdialecticaltensionsexperiencedbyfirstgenerationcollegestudents.Thetitleofherthesisis“BeatingtheOdds?:AnAnalysisofDialecticalTensionsExperiencedByFirstGenerationCollegeStudents.”

Alsograduatingin2011‐2012areStephanieBenke‐McLoughlin,ZacharyFeere,RobertGutierrez,MatthewMathias,CeciliaO'Donnell,TammyOh,DeliaSanjaya,andMaryAnneSunseri.

Congratulationstoallourgraduates!

Ethos

Ethoswasdesignedandcompiledby

RichardBui,afirstyearundergraduatemajoringinCommunicationStudiesandAssistanttotheGraduate

Program.IfyouhavenewsforEthos,contactRichardat:richard.bui@sjsu.edu.